Door-operating mechanism



May 15, 1928.

- E. KRoHN DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May l5, 1928. l 1,669,565

E. KROHN DOOR OPERATING .MEGHANISM Filed Oct. 4 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 15, 1928.

' UNITED STATES iiii'rsirr OFFICE.

EMIL EROI-IN, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD `'IO AXEL W. BJORK- LUND, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AND ONE-THIRD TO VICTOR LILLQU'IST, OF

DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM. i

Application flied october 4, 1926. semi No. 139,340.

This invention relates to a door operating mechanism particularly adapted for opening doors of garages or other buildings in which automobiles are kept. It is desirable to have some means for opening the garage doors from the outside thereof and it is vcry'desirable to be able to open the doors without getting -out of the automobile. While it has heretofore been proposed to provide a door operating mechanism with means for operating the saine actuated by the driven wheels of an automobile, such mechanisms have employed flexible members extending to the doors and the door opening means. Such flexible members have proved in'ipractical and such devices have been practically inoperative and not commercially successful. It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide means for'opening and closing the doors of a garage or otherbuilding which an automobile enters, which may be operated without the necessity of the driver getting out of the automobile.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for opening and closing the doors of a garage or other building which an automobile enters, which means are operated by the driven wheels of the `automobile, a set of said means being provided at the outer side and the'iniier side of said doors and. being connected' by a rigid ineinber. i

It is more specilically an object of this invention to provide a door operating mechanism comprising a pair of rollers disposed outside of the door, a pair Aof rollers disposed inside of the door, said pairs of rollers being adapted to support and be driven by the driven wheels of an automobile, said rollers having shafts carrying gears, and a shown in horizontal section;

Fig. l is a vertical section taken on line 11e-t of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows: Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows; Fig. 6 is a plan view of another inodiiied forin of door opening mechanism, a portion of a building and the `doors being shown in horizontal section and certain parts being iiidicated in different positions in dotted lines; l

7-7 of 6; and

Fig. 8 is av vertical section italien on line 3 8 of Fig-6.

Referring tothe drawings, particularly Figs.v 1 and 2, a garage or'other building in which an automobile is kept or enters shown having theside walls 10 andthe end walls 11. A pair of doors 12 are shown swinging outward to open position about the vertical axes of the hinges 13. rEhe doors 12 have L-shaped brackets 1e secured thereto adjacent their lower ends and disposed somewhat toward the hinges 13. The brackets 14 have pivoted thereto the ends of links 15 which converge away from the doors kand have their upper ends pivoted by a common pivot 1.6 to aguide member 17. The ineniv ber 17 has a portion projecting `into and' guided in a slot 18a extending longitudinally Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on line of a plate or casting 18 which will be secured or set into the iioor of the building, as shown'in Fig. 2. A pair ofbearing boxes 19 vare set into the floorof the building, having parallel sides forming bearings for a pair of parallel shafts 20, which shafts have secured thereto within the boxes 19 rollers 21. As shown iii Fig. l, there is a pair of rollers spaced a short distance from each other in each of the boxes 19. vThe rollers21 project slightly above the floor' of the building, as shown in Fig. 2. The shafts 2O extend between the boxes 19 in a pit 22 formed in the floor of the building, and have secured thereto between said'boxes 19 pinions 23. yThe pinions 23 niesh'withv a rack bar 24 disposed below the same and which is connected at its inner end to the guide member 17. The `guide. meml'ieu.17 may have one lor "more rollers journaled therein adjacent its bottom, which trovel on thebottom of the pit 2G formed beneath t-heV plete" 18A. 'Theraelt bor 2st is V:connect'el ttt its reni" end `or extendeduto yform :t rod 24a extending through the pit 263ml through :t pipe or conduit 27 embedded" in the 1iie'tel"` rial ot the driveway npproeching the build ing. `Seid rod 2% is connected to or formed :it: its other end {tjr-eel; bei.' The rack `ber 28 has `disposed beneath the seme and meshes with, u pair gofvpiuions 29, and seid rock bar at one` end mdves in contact With the under surface ot' :t plate y30` disposed over end forming 'it cover-:for e `pit 31 in which said roel: und pinions29 `tire disposed. The `pinions w29 lareincarred. respectively fon shafts 32 which `extend through the "sidesxo'f bearing boxesidisposed :at the i ends'ot lateraliportionilaof the pit 30. The

shafts 32hz1ve secured et eachendthereot rollers 34: disposed in the boxes 33, which rollers :tre similar `to the rollers 21 `already described and extend Liebert-distance .above 'the to'p of the plete The 4rollers 34 are disposed-some dist'elnce `in front ot' the doors 12. i

.In operation when tliedoors 12 are closed :and the automobile istoenter the building,

the same will be driven so that the rear or the driven 'Wheels thereof will be supported `upon Ythe rollers `34s. Theserollers- 'rotgite quite easily `and the lsame Will `be rotated by therein' wheels ofthe vehicle wlienthe same 1ere driven, each Wheel being; in the position and rotating as shovvn .et Soin Fig.

2. Thepinions 29` Will be y'rotatiedczis indicated by the arrows in i Fig. y2 'andi' rack aber 28 `vii'llz-be lmoved Iaway.frein the doors` 12; Thisfinoves rotln2fft?endfreckzbar 24 sopthat the'pinions 23 `arerotetedin e direction opposite tothe dottedl-inesshmvn in Fig. '2. The guide members-17min `thus belnioved to the right usshoivn in Fig.A 2 and its `other end will travelfin the guideslot 18 of `plate 18. `The links 15 will be moved;outwardly and Willswihg the doors Il2 openythe doors and links moving:r to the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. `1. When the guide-member 17 reaches the end ot the 4guide slot 18T` it will :be stopped and the reeks 24 und 28 een then `:moveno ifm-ther. i `The 'rollerst Will thus be held from rotation4 by gears 29 and shartts 32 21nd the automobile may iidvence ott of the` rollers :ind move into the building- When theantomobile moves Vint-o the 'gein-ge; or .buildine',` the reor rwheels ywill In'oveonto tht.y rollers 21. These roll'e'frs "Will then be rotated by the \vl1eel35,tliewheel o e' cupyini'g fthe` position"androteting fas shown in the-dottedflinesin Fig. 2. The ypin'ions 23 ivillbe roteteda's indicated by' the` rrowsfin Fig. 2 Vand Vthe rack 24 will bemovedin- `further movement of Ward, thus again moving the rack 28 inward. The movement ot' the rack 24 will,`

alsomogvefneiber 17 toftheinwerd fend of slot 18% which will form a stop and prevent members 17.7311@ A The deurs '1e Winti-1' be flosejtt Wh-enit is desired to run lthegnu iobilefdritfdf the garage or. builcliiig,"tl1e` Wheels ithero' W ill Abe reverselvdriven to the direction indicatedindottedlines-.in Fig. 2 und the rack 24 Will be moved outward, thus moving the member 17 to theouter` endrofjslotA '18". When` the memben17 reaches the outerend of said slot. `the Vu-heelfs.21.Acannot tui-ther rotated :ind-the automobile willmozve of the rollers 21` out through the doors12 and brought into positin with..therezirL or driven Wheel-s over andsupported on the rollers`34. 1These rollers czinjthen be rotated in the direction opposite to thatyindicatdd in Fig. 2. and the;rock"ber128 will beimoved `toward doors12 end the doorszclosed movement ofrack 24,;1nember17tind links 15. `'The `members 17 `Willniove ,to the inljll end ot' slot 181` and thejziutomobile' jciinthen Utl back oli'bf the rollers 34 leaving the doors i 12 in closed position. The doors12fgtre thus moved to. open` und closed position merely by the movement loit the automobileWheels and it is unnecessaryforthedriver of the `autoxnobileto leave his seattherein.

In Figs. .3, f1,1 and 5- amodiied formmoi the. device is shown. AInl thisformvthefrollers 34 and 21 irfe/providedesjbefore,` Which will be mounted' inthe driveway and the floor of the building `as shown 1n Figs.` l and 2.` rlhe' rollers 34Will beconneeted as described by the shafts 32, which are in turn connected by i a cha-in 32a running `over sprockets secured thereto `The rollers `21 will be` connected `by the shafts 2O which are falso connected by ,chains 2.011 `runningover sprockets secured thereto. One of theshefts 32 Lhas a Vbeveled geen 136 secured thereto meshing withu beveledgear :37 cerriedon the end of shaft 38, which extends longitudinally of the driveway end-building und which Will be disposedbelow the surface ot the driveway and Hoor..` The sheft38v has "a beveled `gear 4397secured atits othenend,

meshing with u beveledgeer 4() secured" to izo ln operation the rollers i4 will be disposed in front of the doors 12 as shownin Fig. 1 and will be rotated by the driven Wheels of the automobile as already ldescribed. This will rotatetlie shaft 32 and the beveled gears 3G and 37 so that shaft 3 will be rotated. The worm gear 41 will thus be rotated, rotating worm wheel gear 32 and shaft 43 so that the segments 46 will be rotated by gears and the doors 12 swung to open position against stops 50. l'Nhen the doors engage said stops, the gears and rollers 34 cannot be further rotated, so that the automobile can move oi'iI of the rollers into the building. The automobile will be moved to position with its driven wheels resting on the rollers 21 which will be rotated and the shaft 3S will then be rotated in a reverse direction vthrough the gears 4() and 89. This will rotate shaft 43 in the reverse direction and the doors will be moved to closed position. lVlien the doors vare in closed position, they will engage stops (not shown) and if'desired, the automobile can move oil' of the rollers 21. It is not necessary, however, that the automobile wheels move oil' of the rollers 21 and they preferably will remain on said rollers until it is desired to again open said doors l2 to take the automobile out of the building. The driven Wheels 'of the automobile will be moved in the reve sedirection and will ro y tate the rollers 21, thus rotating shafts 38 and 43 and the segments 46 in a direction to open the doors. After the automobile has passed through the doors it may be. brought onto the rollers 34 and the driven wheels may be rotated in a, reverse direction to rotate shafts 38 and 43 so that the doors will' again be closed. It will be seen that the doors can be opened'and closed without the necessity of the driver leaving the autoincbile.

In Figs. 6 to 8, a structureis shown by means of which the driver can open the doors by hand without leaving the automobile. A. pair of standards 51 are provided and secured in the concrete or other mate-v rial of the driveway' as shown iii Fig. 8, which standards willhave bearings 51l at their upper portions which maybe formed of standard tees. The shaft 52 is journaled in the bearings 51a having a. hand'wheel at one end thereof which wheel will be disposed at a height for the driver of the automobile to operateA the same while he is stilly in the automobile. The shaft 52 carries a pinion 54 at one end adapted to mesh with a beveled gear segment 55 secured to one of the doors 12, and rotating about the axis 56 of the hinged pint-le of the door. The doors 12 will have links 57 pivoted to brackets 58 secured thereon, which links 57 converge inwardly and are pivoted by the pivot 57 a to a guide bar 59 which is movable in spaced members or castings 60 secured to the floor or ceiling of the building. The castings .(50 have guide rollers 61 journaled therein kengaging the sides of the bar 59 and said bar carries stop members 59'L adapted to engage the adjacent sides of members 60-when the doors are in closed or wide open position.

In operation the automobile will be posi-l tioned in front of the doors 12 and ,the driver will turn ther Wheel 53thus turning the segment 55 and openingV one of the doors 12. This door will pull upon its link 57 and theA guide bar 59 will thus be moved longitudinally and through the other link 57 will open the other door 12. The doors may be closed by reverse movement of the Lhand wheelf. i

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a simple, practicable and efficient mechanism for conveniently opening and closing the doorsof the garage or other building which an vautomobile is v adapted to enter.

Thev device comprising rigidl members, there is no chance for lost motion to occur and no chance for the members to lengthen in use. The doors will thus always be brought to proper open and lclosed position. The parte` of the device are few andv the san'ie'are easilymade and assembled.

The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efficient. n

It will, of couvrse, be understood that various changes. may be made in the form, details, `arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the novel parts andcombinations of lparts dis closed and Vdefined in the appended claims.

lli/That is claimed is z--A 1. The combination with a door swinging about a vertical axis, of a rigid member con nected to the door and adapted to be moved to open and close said door, a second rigid reciprocating member `connected to said member for moving the same, two pairs of rollers disposed respectively at the inner and outer sides of said doors, the rollers of each pair being side by side` and adapted to be operated by the driven wheels of an automobile and a rigid member extending between said rollers and geared to one of said rollers of each pair and extendingvto and connected to said second n'ientioned member for operating the saine and opening and vclosing said doors.

2. An operating mechanism for opening and closing doors hinged about vertical having in combination. a set of spaced pairs of axially alined rollers adapted to support and be driven bythe driven wheels of an automobile, a pair of swinging doors at one side of saidset of rollers, a second ber' for openingfandr losing' said doors.

SHA door opel-ating ineehanisin lniving in combination, a of spacedpairs of rollers, the rollers ineach liairbeing side by side andthe rollers or' `the respective pairs being axially alined, saidpairs being adapted` to support and be `driven respectively by the driven Wheels of an automobile, shafts connecting said axially alined rollers, pinions carried by said shafts, al ack at one side of said pinions meshing therewith, a swinging doorv at one `side of said "rollers, a "second set of similar'rollers at `the other side of said door, "shafts connecting "the "axially alined rollers' `of said second set, ypinions carried by said'last mentioned shafts, arack at one side o'fisa-idv latter pininsandiieshing therewith, said racks being" Connected, a ineii'iber moving ,at right angles to said doors when inclo ",dposition, connected" to saithracks, and` liieansjconnected to said` closing` said' door. y i

y 4. YA; loer operating` mechanism having in combination, spaced pairs ofrollers, the rollers in each pairbeing side by sidef and the rollers of the respective pairs being axially alined,`shafts connecting said axially alined rollers, gears on one of said shafts, a pair of swinging doors atonedside of said rollers, another pair of similar rollers at the other side of said doors, shafts connecting said latter rollers, gears carried on one of said latter shafts, a ,memberextending between saidfirst mentionedand lastmenmember and said doors for opening and tioned" shafts and operatively connected to said gears, swinging means connected to said doorsfandrigid inembers connecting said last' mentioned member and jsaid means.

A door 'operating' mechanism having in combination, spaced pairs of rollers,V the rollers in each pair being side by sideand the rollers of tliel respective pairs being` said"y axialnected to saiddoorsand said" gliide 'meiiiber for `opening fand closing said fd movement of said guide member.

6, A door operatingmechanism having in i combination, spaced pairs i of rollers`,* the rollers i the rollers of the' respective pairs being axially alinefhshafts"connecting said axial'- lyalined rollers,gea s on one ofsaifdish; s. a `pair of swinging doors at one side ot 11d rollers, "another pair tot similarrollers at `in each pair "being side by side and 'he otherside ofjsaidfdoors,"shafts connecting said latter rollers, gears carrled onone of ysaid latter shaftsa inembeifextending between` saldkhrst mentioned and last mentioned shaftshaying `gear teeth at /eachfeiid disposed ,at opposite sides p'e'ctively of said member and meshing iv fh sarl `first and second mentioned y gears "respectively,

said "members andto said doo s'. e y Intestimony Whereofl affix my signature.

:EML Kriens:

.andlinks pivotally conneetedftoone end off 

